Chainsaw theology

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by Dan Amos

I have an electric chain saw that I’ve been using since the mid-90’s. On the manliness scale of tools it doesn’t rate very high, but it gets the job done. It’s not uncommon though that when using it, some well-intentioned person will say they have a gas-powered chain saw that will easily do the job. I generally acknowledge the prowess of their chain saw and continue on.

The point is, I have a job to do and I can get it done now with the tools I have available to me or I can I accept the potential of help at a later time that may never come. With my old chain saw I get the job done now; with their chain saw it may never get done.

As this scenario played out again for me recently I thought about how we can always wait for the perfect solution to come along and not accomplish anything. But, God has chosen to work through the imperfect — us. By doing so, His glory is shone, not ours and we are forced to rely on Him.

Put another way, Martin recently advised someone they could do nothing and 10 years from now they would be in the exact same situation. Or, they could pursue a path that will take a long time to accomplish, but at the end of it, they will be a different person, prepared for a different path in life than they are now.

Think of all the heroes of the Bible, besides Jesus, and they all were imperfectly suited for the task God had for them. For some we are told of a lifetime of service where they grew in effectiveness the longer they followed God’s path for them. But for many, we know of only a short-term task where God used an electric chainsaw and did something wonderful. As we at Elim seek to follow him and serve in ministries, sometimes we’ll feel and look like that electric chainsaw — not the seemingly perfect fit, but the job gets done and God’s kingdom is built.

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